MANILA — Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. has called on local government units (LGUs) nationwide to establish their local 911 command centers and prepare for an anticipated increase in typhoons this year due to the La Niña weather pattern.
Abalos, speaking at the recent “Emergency 911 (E911) National Summit,” stressed the need for a unified, nationwide 911 emergency response system that utilizes modern technology, similar to the system established in the United States, to ensure swift and accurate responses to emergencies across the country.
“We are now starting this,” Abalos said, as he highlighted that Navotas City and other LGUs across the country are soon to launch revitalized public safety capabilities and establish a command center equipped with cutting-edge technology provided by Next Generation Advanced 911 (NGA 911).
“The only thing we can do to implement this in the most efficient way is to use technology,” Abalos added.
The DILG chief cited the Philippine National Police (PNP) for testing NGA 911 technology, which, he said, has enhanced its emergency response capabilities to a level comparable to those in the US and Europe.
The state-of-the-art NGA 911 call handling system enables the PNP to respond to distress calls and provide emergency response with unprecedented speed and accurate location pinpointing.
Dr. Ted Esguerra, in his presentation entitled, “The International Disaster Response Network and the New Normal Life,” emphasized the Philippines’ vulnerability to various natural hazards.
“It is time to invest in disaster resilience,” Esguerra said.
The summit, attended by 38 LGUs, 18 government agencies and eight private organizations, comprising approximately 350 participants,was highlighted by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among the DILG, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), NGA 911, and the PNP, formalizing the transfer of the NGA 911 call handling system to the PNP and solidifying their roles in modernizing the country’s emergency response system. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
